Jessica Jesinghaus's Blog: JJ's Muse

Read November 24-34, 2025

Rating (5 stars)

Free to read in KU https://a.co/d/3FuW5Bd

A punchy, sharp YA dystopian parable

The Marked, Crimson Rising is a shorter read, a little longer than novella length, but it manages to convey so much despite its shorter format. Elia’s doubts and fears, her growth and maturation all feel real and hard-won. The author’s writing style favors short, punchy sentences and crisp dialogue. The story is populated by people who have had to fight for every small freedom they have, so economy of action and speech felt right. You won’t find flowery descriptions or purple prose within these pages, but rather a verbal sucker-punch that leaves you thinking over your own choices and questioning authority in all its forms.

What do you do when the government’s algorithm predicts your violent death within the next six years? How do you survive, let alone actually live, with the weight of such a proclamation? For Elia, it’s a tightrope walk she has managed to maintain now for four years, ever since the Dominion marked her at 13. But something has shifted and the Dominion is now coming for her. She’s dangerous in a way no one, let alone Elia herself, understands or could predict. Once the Rebels get their hands on her, Elia must decide if she’ll continue to have her life and actions dictated for her, or if she will finally take a stand for individuality and choice. Will she allow herself to become another instrument of control by the Dominion? Or one of prophecy by the Rebellion? Or will she choose another path, one wholly unforseen, unpredictable, and uncontrollable?

When I first started reading, I wanted to know more… background on the world, the Dominion, how things got this way. But by the end I realized those things didn’t matter. What mattered was how Elia chose to react to it. To quote a line from the book “Fear’s always easier than freedom.” Are you brave enough to see what comes next?

The Thorne Saga, Book 1

Read November 18-22, 2025

Rating (3.5 stars)

Available to pre-order here (releases 2/11/26) https://a.co/d/2CpWnxQ

An intriguing tale of angels vs demons

Ember & Ash starts out with the feel of a legal thriller, but quickly morphs into something much bigger and more magical. Ember is a defense attorney, determined to represent the truly innocent. At the book’s start she appears to be doing exactly that: defending an innocent professor in a serial murder case. But when the verdict comes in, it’s as if the veil has been lifted and she’s seeing the world through new eyes.

True evil exists, and so do demons and nephilim. Her own past is thrown into doubt as she learns about the magic around her, hidden in plain sight her whole life. Ember is quickly drawn into a fight for survival, not just her own, but humanity’s as well. The premise is captivating and highly entertaining. So, too, was the burning spark of desire building between Ember and her rescuer / mentor, Micah. He holds the key to the knowledge Ember needs as well the ability to help her unlock her powers & become the warrior she was born to be. Their chemisty was electric; drawn to each other at every opportunity, yet forced to keep each other at a distance. Their passion must to take a backseat to duty. The slow burn was delicious.

Unfortunately, a few aspects of the story felt underdeveloped to me. Magic seems to have little-to-no rules or limitations. Micah is supposed to be teaching Ember how to use her powers, yet his tutelage consists of barked orders to “believe” and trust herself. No one ever really explains the rules to Ember (or us as readers) and we’re forced to just blindly accept our ignorance. The dialogue, and Ember’s inner thoughts (the whole book is in her POV), felt stilted and didn’t flow well in quite a few spots. In the end, these things can be overlooked, and I’m intrigued and invested enough in the story to want to read the next installment. The story is far from concluded, but at least Ember & Ash doesn’t leave us with a nail-biting cliffhanger, rather a break at a pivital point.

**I received an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley for which I voluntarily chose to write an unbiased review.**

A Fated for the Holidays Novella

Read November 16-17, 2025

Rating (4 stars)

Free to read in KU https://a.co/d/icvkszp

If food were a melody…

Take a quick journey & visit the delightful little town of Magnolia Springs. A place where food, community, and magic thrive side by side.

This sweet little novella kicks off by introducing us to Meagan as she helps her friends and neighbors prepare for their annual pre-Thanksgiving feast. It positively drips with cozy vibes & quirky friends. Meagan is a woman who lives to cook, and food is clearly her love language. But something is missing from her life. She loves to feed her friends & neighbors, but it seems like she’s gotten to a point where she’s trying to pour from an empty cup. There was a line in the book that summed it up rather eloquently: “Everyone takes a piece of her and calls it generosity.” It serves as a gentle reminder to take a moment to “feed” ourselves.

As a stranger to Magnolia Springs, Silas is a desperate man with a deep well of emptiness in his soul. And it’s not a figurative thing, it’s a real & deep hunger brought about by a curse. He’s a bear-shifter, forced to steer clear of people for fear that his bear will emerge, driven by hunger, bringing death to anyone near.

And here’s where this cozy little story makes a sharp left turn and shifts (pun unappologetically intended) into a steamy fated-mate romance. Witnessing Meagan’s determined and quiet strength as she coaxes Silas into trusting her, himself, and his inner bear was poignant. She feeds & soothes him, body and soul, with a mix of warm food and tender touch. Although ‘fated’ & fast their love was a beautiful thing.

Bound on Thanksgiving is part (at the time of this review) of a four-pack of novellas all set in the quirky Magnolia Springs, but you don’t have to read the others for this story to make sense. I would have liked a little more intro or background on the town and its residents (why is no one surprised by a bear shifter in their midst?) but I can’t hold it against the book without reading the others too.

There were a few points where the tale got a bit repetitive, descriptions and food metaphors looping around for a second helping, but it’s minor. I will say, the author’s love of food and nurturing is clear and made me wanna get wrist deep in a new recipe or two. If you’re looking for a steamy cuppa love and redemption, this one will hit the spot.

Crimson Duology, Book 1

Read November 15-16, 2025

Rating (5 stars)

Pre-order now (available December 6, 2025) https://a.co/d/1LNxO9D

Absolutely addicting & enthralling

I devoured this book! Serina and Rhylis have a chemistry that is off-the-charts intense. From their very first meeting, I knew I was in for a treat.

Serina is a slave, sold to a brothel at the age of 15, and desperate for a way out. So when she’s approached by the fallen angel Asmodeus and offered her freedom in exchange for seducing the king of a neighboring kingdom she jumps at the chance. He promises her a power which will help her in her mission, but will she use it? Can she afford to?

But the king, Rhylis, isn’t at all what she expected. Not only is he devastatingly handsome, but in his kingdom slavery has been abolished and he does everything in his power to give her the freedom to return home with him. His need for control masks a sexual darkness I couldn’t wait to see come to light.

They both have secrets and watching their verbal sparring matches (and later their physical ones) was delicious. It’s clear Rhylis wants her, but waiting for it to actually happen was a devious torment. Combine this tension with the politics of the realm and the machinations of fallen angels, and you have a high-stakes fantasy romance with kingdoms, lives, and hearts on the line.

As part of a duology, this installment does end on a cliffhanger, so be prepared. But don’t let that dissuade you from diving into Serina & Rhylis’s world. The re-read potential is high (trust me, you won’t mind revisiting a few specific chapters).

**I received an advance review copy of this book from the author for which I voluntarily chose to write an unbiased review.**

Sylvan Knight Series, Book 2

Read November 13-14, 2025

Rating (5 stars)

Find it here https://a.co/d/fkg7hmC

The world and mythology of the Sylvan Knight series continues to captivate & enthrall

What a truly engaging and consuming fantasy world! Irina and Eli have penned another installment in a lovely yet brutal saga of druids, knights, mages, and evil all vying to either control or save the realm.

Picking up right where Sylvan Knight concluded, Of Gods & Grove ups the ante. Still reeling from losses suffered at the battle at Valkarion, Carastan, Rubi, and the others must regroup and press forward. The world our characters inhabit, and the forces threatening its future, are bigger than we knew and we get to explore and experience the brutal vastness right alongside Carastan and Rubi. From the sheltered embrace of druidic groves and the bustling press of city streets, we now move out into the wide expanse of open desert. With hidden ruins, dangerous sand dragons, and a Lost Tribe of druids there’s no shortage of wonder to behold.

An Archmage, Nevyr, joins their quest, revealing more of their realm’s shadow history. I love how the mythos and godly pantheon of this world is being unveiled in slow layers. Each time the characters think they have arrived at the truth behind their cultural beliefs, a new layer is revealed. It forces a growth and evolution that, while sometimes brutal, feels rewarding.

The love which began to bloom between Carastan and Rubi in the first book continues to grow here, but watered in blood & tears. It’s impossible not to root for them. Meanwhile, we are also treated to an inside look into the machinations of Maratay and her evil allies, seeing how dark power warps and drives them. The horror they’ve wrought is a stark contrast to the quiet strength of Carastan & Rubi’s love.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next book. Can’t wait to see what’s in store.

Read November 11-14, 2025

Rating (5 stars)

Preorder here (available December 17, 2025) https://a.co/d/iXCMRwV

You can’t keep the truth hidden forever

From the very first page, The Forgotten Wife will have you in a desperate choke hold. It’s the kind of twisty, devious romp that will keep you turning pages well past bedtime.

What would you do if your fiancé, the man you’ve told all your secrets and insecurities to, was caught in a momentous lie? The kind of lie that dredges up past traumas and leaves you questioning your future? Well, for our poor, betrayed main character Winter Southerland, you dig in your heels and run blindly into the fray in a desperate search for truth!

Winter has some issues. She’s been betrayed by some key people in her life and she’s done her best to evolve and cope with those traumas, but she might not be as ‘healed’ as she would like to believe. She’s something of an introvert, doesn’t have the best social skills, hardly any friends, and aside from her job as an engineer barely has a life outside the home she shares with her fiancé Fenton. Her life appears perfect on the surface, but as the story progresses and her frustrations and doubts take center stage, we realize just how much of herself she’s let go of to fit into life with Fenton.

Love is never as simple as it first appears. Fenton’s secrets keep growing, taking on a life of their own as more and more people get ensnared in their grasp. First, there’s Fenton’s mysterious ex who shares startling truths with Winter. Then add in their sweet elderly neighbor, Fenton’s shady yet gregarious older brother Brian, Winter’s only friend & confidant Cammie, and Fenton’s overbearing (and possible criminal overlord) father… there’s no shortage of people telling Winter what to do or who to trust.

Most of the book is told in first person POV through Winter’s eyes, giving us backstage access to all her insecurities, doubts, and fears. It makes the mystey and the danger that much more gripping. I was thoroughly invested, my own mind spinning through the possible truths with dizzying speed, just like Winter’s, while trying to piece everything together and reading well into the wee hours of the morning until the truth was finally revealed.

Alex, you’ve done it again! Thanks for another stellar read.

**I received an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley for which I voluntarily chose to write an unbiased review.**

Queen of the Dead, Book 1

Read November 8-11, 2025

Rating (3.5 stars)

Free to read in KU https://a.co/d/1jsoDlv

Zombies, mind control, and super-soldiers… oh my!

Based on the book’s description I was picturing a post-apocalyptic zombie romp, but that’s not quite accurate… at least, not at first. In Nikol’s world, zombies have arrived and they pose a real threat, yet somehow life continues. There is still a functional society with stores and restaurants and coffee shops… there’s just a more strident need for security, especially after dark.

After awakening alone & injured in an alleyway, Nikol has no memory of her life before and must strike out on her own in a world which is fraying at the edges. But survival is hard, and Nikol finds herself desperate for money, a job, and a roof over her head…so she sells the only commodity she has left: her body. After signing up for an online auction to sell her virginity, Nikol gets swept up in a new life. A handsome, rich man has won her, but he promises so much more than a single night of pleasure. She takes a job at a swanky club and, due to circumstances outside her control, moves in with the man who ‘won’ her. Personally, the whole selling her virginity part of the story felt unecessary and a tad over-the-top, but that’s just my opinion. I would have been more willing to believe she just got swept up in a whirlwind romance with the devastatingly handsome & rich Thorne than the storyline we were given.

In the first chapter it was established that zombies only pose a real threat at night, but further explanations takes a while to come, so be patient. Basically the first quarter of the book is Nikol adjusting to her new life and settling into a routine with her rich boyfriend. But then, suddenly, the story shifts and Nikol is forced to flee, all while learning about her mysterious (but useful) powers, unraveling rumors of government conspiracies and secret experiments, and banding together with other Revenants in a desperate bid for survival. Nikol is a smart woman, but with her missing memories she doesn’t really know how smart she is. She’s surrounded by interesting, and brutally handsome, men who each call to her in various ways… leading to some spicy content and ‘why choose’ encounters. For me, the last 3/4 of the book were the reason to read it, even if it does end in one doozy of a cliffhanger.

If I were to give readers a single word to keep in the forefront of their mind while reading Revenant’s Dawn, it would be “fantasy.” Nikol’s story may feel like it takes place in another version of our world, but if you ascribe too much reality to the tale you’re likely to find yourself shaking your head. If you can grant it the leeway of fantasy, you’re in for one helluva ride.

Read November 4-8, 2025

Rating (5 stars)

https://a.co/d/6ZOO5B8

The classic story, but this time as seen Through the Eyes of the Opera Ghost

Step behind the curtain, strip away the costumes and makeup, and experience a story you thought you knew in a glorious new way.

Phantom of the Opera has long been a favorite of mine: the Broadway version, the original Leroux classic, and Ms DeSye’s own Phantom Rising trilogy. It’s been years since I read DeSye’s prior Phantom-themed books (9 of them to be exact)… but within moments of starting this book I was back, held in the Paris Opera House’s intoxicating embrace.

As the book’s title suggests, the tale is told exclusively from the perspective of Erik. From his shadowy secret passageways to his clandestine ‘service’ toward those less appreciated workers toiling behind the scenes of the Opera House, we see a different side of the Opera Ghost. Shocking events, like the brutal death of Joseph Buquet or the dazzling fall of the grand chandelier, are given new and alternate motivations in ways that feel true and organic. They turn a story we thought we knew into a new experience full of surprises, heartbreak, and loss. Living inside Erik’s hidden world was eye-opening. His heartbreak is visceral, his need for love and acceptance is a primal driving force and one we, as readers, can easily understand.

As in her earlier Phantom Rising series, Ms DeSye has captured the spirit of the original classic. The dialogue and prose feel true to the original. It was easy to get lost in the atmosphere of the opera, the love, betrayals, and sacrifice. Grab a glass of wine, curl up by the fire, and experience the story of Christine, Raoul, and Erik anew. You won’t be disappointed.

Read November 2-3, 2025

Rating (4 stars)

Get it here https://a.co/d/cZ1QZUh

He may be soulless, but he has a lot of heart

I loved the premise of this story! Cress is a monster. In his world, creatures known as Soulless can consume the souls of humans. Doing so (temporarily) abates the gnawing hunger that drives them, but it also creates a new Soulless to prey on mankind. But something about Cress is different. He’s managed to avoid condemming others to his fate. But when he finds Syndel, unconscious, wounded, and alone in the wild forest his hunger kicks into overdrive. She has the purest, brightest soul he’s ever seen. He is driven to consume and possess and protect her in equal measures. Yet despite his eternal hunger he vows to protect her from other Soulless, and all the other dangers of their realm.

Syndel is special. Not only is her soul, her aura, a beacon of purity and light, but we slowly learn of the hardships and tragedy she has endured. I wanna avoid spoilers, but her past and family lineage is important, and her willingess to trust Cress despite his Soulless nature says a lot about her character.

The truth of how the Soulless came to be unravels slowly. The first two-thirds of the book are mostly just Cress and Syndel getting to know one another and then traveling north in an effort to evade men known as Noble-lords; men possessing magical powers and a dark history with Syndel. The story’s pacing staggered a little (only a little) with the true nature of their quest and final confrontation taking place in the book’s last third. For me, the prep for the epic battle, the outcome of which will determine the fate of mankind and Soulless alike, felt a tad rushed. But the message this book sets out to convey, that we all have the power to choose goodness and light, was delivered with aplomb.

While most books in the Romantasy genre are known for their spice, this one is proud to announce itself as “clean Romantasy,” free of crude language, unnecessary violence, and sex. It’s a true YA romantic fantasy story but with themes of fate and redemption that will appeal to readers of all ages.

I usually don’t comment on a book’s cover (and it held no bearing on my rating) but in this case I think it’s warranted. The vibe the current cover gave me was of a more contemporary read. I didn’t get the sense of magic, the quaint era of the tale, or of fantasy from the current cover. If the author were to consider a cover change, something more in line with the genre, it may draw in more readers.

Eldritch Depths Series, Book 3

Read October 25 – November 1, 2025

Rating (5 stars)

Dive right in https://a.co/d/fX5wSDn

Keeps getting better the deeper we dive into the Swell

After the crazy ending of book 2, I was eager to see where our characters were gonna take us next. Firstly, the fate of our daring dreamer Bal had me on pins & needles, but unfortunately I was left in that state! It is a testament to SM Campbell’s writing that I was so invested in the young Oceanid’s fate! Instead of Bal’s story we get another new character through which to experience the Swell, pirate Tari.

From the outset, we know Tari has a past, something that she’s running from, but it wasn’t until the final third of the book that we get to know what (or who) that is. Tari was a likeable woman, a pirate and a drifter, yes, but one with a habit of “picking up strays” along her travels. When she and her shipmates encounter crystal-encrusted monstrocities, Tari risks everything to try to save her wounded comrades who were afflicted. What she’s able to learn about the crystals has the potential to change the balance of power throughout the Swell. Her character arc was brutal yet somehow still gratifying.

Nario’s reunion with Renalia was everything I’d hoped for: fraught with anger, resentment, longing, and lust. Sparks fly with these two, especially when a former lover of Nario’s enters the picture. The earth stone gets some serious page time with frightening new powers & possibilities, making Nario’s mission to keep it safe and out of the hands of those who would abuse its potential even that much more important. He and Renalia make some important alliances with wonderful potential going into the next book.

And then there’s Vila & Arturian, still traveling with Taragin, as Vila struggles with her obvious addiction to Deep Ones blood. Taragin is determined to train Vila, even if that means breaking her, and the brutality of their sparring matches was a visceral gut punch to read. Arturian continues to diferentiate himself from his twin, Agustan, and we fianlly get to see Vila start to trust (and yearn for) him.

There was so much happening across these three story lines! So many people and factions, each with their own agendas, politics, and motivations… the world of the Swell keeps getting larger and crazier the deeper we go. Revelations made in the final pages left me cursing the stars above since book 4 isn’t out yet. It’s gonna be a long wait.